Two Vantage students earn national recognition

Monday, June 30, 2014 10:05 AM

Vantage students Ben Schnipke (left) and Austin Stuckey (right) pose for a picture during the Skills USA competition in Kansas City last week. (Submitted photo)

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VAN WERT — It was unprecedented success for Vantage Career Center over the weekend at the national Skills USA competition in Kansas City, Missouri. Ben Schnipke of Ottoville earnered silver in cabinetry, according to teacher Jerry Robinson. Also, Austin Stukey of Parkway competed in carpentry, but his results have not yet been posted.
“This is the best Vantage has ever done in cabinetry, and the first Vantage student in carpentry ever to make it nationals,” Robinson reported Sunday evening.
Robinson also noted that he was expecting Stukey’s results to be very good. Stukey had 78 competitors in Kansas City -- 54 from secondary schools and another 24 post secondary.
The competition for Schnipke consisted of taking a cabinetry test, then work through the plans for his cabinet and write down measurements for his cut list, then building the cabinet the next day. He had eight hours to complete the task, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Thursday. He competed against 53 others in the competition.
These two recently-graduated seniors not only have been rewarded for the competition results, but Robinson noted there is another benefit.
“When these boys do this, their job opportunities are unlimited,” he said. “They get offered some really good jobs.”
Stukey was offered jobs at two different construction firms, one in Ohio and the other in Florida.
Schnipke received job offers from AWI Arcitectural Woodwork Institute and a cabinet company in Cleveland.
The national Skills USA competition featured the state winners from each of the 50 states in 99 different categories.
Both students received approximately $700 worth of tools and gift certificates while at the competition.
Robinson reminded anyone interested in finding out if they have what it takes to get to the next level to contact Vantage Career Center.